treetwalkers were regarded as the lowest strata of women involved in prostitution in the 18th century. In his pamphlet (1726) author Daniel Defoe complained about whores accosting him as he walked the streets of London: “I have every now and then been put to the Halt, sometimes by the full Encounter of an audacious Harlot, whose impudent Leer shewd she only stoppe'd my Passage in order to draw my Observation on her; at other times, by Twitches on the Sleeve, lewd and ogling Salutations.” Often with no brothel where they would take their clients, they had sex in alleyways, dark corners of streets or parks. Others might solicit in the streets or taverns but had dismal lodgings where they could take men back. Even those women working from brothels might fall into
